Bobzilla's Research on Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) is almost complete! Bobzilla has funded the research of Dr. David Turner, Ph. D who is a member of the Massey Cancer Center research team at Virginia Commonwealth University, Vice Chair of Research & Innovation of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program and founder of the Anti-A. G. E Foundation, a non-profit organization which spreads awareness about the severity of processed foods and their impact on the health span and life span of humans and dogs alike. You can read more about David's work here. Here is a brief overview before the study is released to the public! Overview: This study looked at ultra-processed dog foods (like kibble and canned diets) to understand how much they contain of harmful compounds called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs form when food is cooked or processed at high heat, especially when sugars, proteins, and fats react together (think of the browning you see when toasting bread – that’s the same process). While a little is normal, eating a lot of AGEs over time has been linked to inflammation, faster aging, and chronic diseases in both people and pets. What David and his Team did: They tested 100 commercial dog foods (44 kibbles and 56 canned foods). They measured AGEs in different ways: some very specific compounds (CML and MG-H1) and also broader "fluorescent AGEs," which glow under certain light and give an overall measure. They compared results across food types and ingredients. What they found: Both kibble and canned foods are very high in AGEs, but canned foods often had more on a per-calorie basis. Dogs eating their daily recommended amount could be consuming grams of AGEs every day – far higher than humans typically get. Protein- and fat-rich canned foods tended to have more AGEs, while kibble results were more consistent because of standardized processing. Looking at only one marker (like CML) underestimates the problem – the real exposure is much larger when all AGEs are considered. The way the food is made (high heat, rendering, extrusion, sterilization) is a big driver of AGE levels. What Bobzilla's Team did: Organized research findings into a database that lists the food highest in AGEs to foods lowest in AGEs analyzed in this study Why it matters: High AGE intake may help explain why dogs, like humans, are developing more chronic diseases (obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer). Dogs are a good model for studying the effects of ultra-processed diets because they live in the same environments as humans and often eat only processed foods. A new “total AGE score” that combines different measurements may be a better way to track dietary risk from processed foods. Big Takeaways: Both people and dogs eating mostly ultra-processed foods are likely consuming a lot of harmful compounds created during manufacturing. For dogs, this could mean higher risk of long-term health problems. Tracking AGEs more carefully – and possibly finding ways to reduce them in food – could help improve health for both pets and humans. Product Embed | Donate to Bobzilla. org
